A Late-Night Meeting with Yao Lao and His Disciple, the Spirit Ascension Method!

Late at night, beneath a bright moon and sparse stars, a curved half-moon hung in the pitch-black sky.

Clear moonlight spilled over the ground, casting three shadows of differing lengths.

Inside the courtyard, Lin Chen sat cross-legged on the Green Lotus Platform, completely naked, his body radiating terrifying heat.

Beside him stood two petite figures of roughly equal height, each wearing a pair of Ice Silkworm Silk Gloves as they spread a fiery-red medicinal liquid over his bare skin.

"Qing Lin, aren't you tired? Let's take a break."

Zi Yan touched the firm muscles of Lin Chen's chest. Seeing no reaction from him, she rolled her dark eyes and turned toward Qing Lin, a coaxing note in her voice.

"No. Brother Lin Chen said that using Heavenly Flames to help him cultivate consumes the medicinal potency very quickly. We have to apply it at regular intervals, or his cultivation will slow down."

Qing Lin shook her head and wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve before saying gently, "If you're tired, Sister Zi Yan, go cultivate. I'll apply the medicine for Brother Lin Chen."

Zi Yan stared at her with wide eyes, her little mouth opening to say something, only to discover that she had nothing to say.

She could only pout. "I never said I wouldn't apply it. I just wanted to take a break first."

For some reason, ever since this girl named Qing Lin had come to Lin Chen's side, Zi Yan had felt uncomfortable, even though someone was now helping her wait on that big bully.

Yet she only felt worse and worse. Sometimes, when she thought about how much Lin Chen valued this girl, even pills lost their flavor.

Mean old Lin Chen. I don't care about him...

I can live perfectly well on my own without him...

Zi Yan muttered inwardly, but her hands never stopped spreading the medicine over Lin Chen's body. As her cool, delicate little hands brushed his firm, powerful skin, a faint blush crept onto her face.

I never noticed before, but this bully is actually quite handsome...

As that thought crossed her mind, a knock suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

"Is Senior Lin Chen here? This junior, Xiao Yan, has come to visit!"

As his words faded,

Lin Chen's tightly shut eyes snapped open atop the Green Lotus Platform, a sharp gleam flashing through them. He waved a hand, stopping the two little girls' ministrations. "Go back to your rooms first. I need to speak with him alone."

Zi Yan abruptly came to her senses and nodded instinctively, her eyes still rather dazed.

"All right, Brother Lin Chen."

Blushing, Qing Lin took out the handkerchief she kept close to her body and wiped the sweat from Lin Chen's neck before rising to leave.

Once the two girls had gone, Lin Chen swept his sleeve, throwing the courtyard gate wide open, then said in a low voice, "Come in."

A moment later, a black-robed youth carrying a Heavy Ruler on his back walked inside.

With a resolute expression and steady steps, the youth approached the center of the courtyard and cupped his hands toward Lin Chen. "May I ask, Senior, was the Dou Huang expert who soared into the sky earlier today one of your people?"

"What if he was? What if he wasn't? What would you do about it?"

Lin Chen regarded him with an ambiguous smile. With a sweep of his sleeve, he poured a cup of clear tea and offered it to him. "Sit. Whatever you have to say, we can discuss it seated."

Xiao Yan drew a deep breath and sat opposite Lin Chen. Gritting his teeth, he finally stated why he had come.

"Senior, are you planning to head into the depths of the Tagor Desert tomorrow and take the green lotus core flame from Queen Medusa?"

"That's right. Didn't you say you weren't getting involved?"

Lin Chen took a light sip of tea, a teasing smile curling his lips.

"I..."

Xiao Yan's face reddened as he said sheepishly, "I didn't know any better before, Senior..."

"Ah, lad, let me do the talking."

The next moment, a flash of white light shone from Xiao Yan's ring, and an elderly man in white robes appeared.

His figure was somewhat illusory as he hovered in midair with his hands behind his back, every inch a grandmaster.

"This disciple of mine is also an alchemist. Heavenly Flames are something one can encounter but never seek out at will, so naturally, he doesn't want to miss this chance. Young friend, I possess an eighth-tier alchemist's legacy."

"I obtained it from some ruins while I was alive. How about trading it for the green lotus core flame you're about to acquire?"

Yao Lao stroked his beard and smiled confidently.

"Eighth-tier? That seems a little beneath your standing as the continent's finest alchemist, Senior. Do you have anything ninth-tier?"

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow and looked at Yao Lao with a broad smile, unable to resist teasing him.

"Ahem, ahem..."

Clearly caught off guard by having his identity exposed, Yao Lao coughed lightly before recovering. His eyes narrowed. "You recognized me?"

"An eighth-tier alchemist who possesses the bone spirit cold flame? As an alchemist myself, it would be rather difficult for me not to have heard of such a mysterious master!"

Lin Chen spread his hands helplessly, as though it were only natural.

Yao Lao nodded slightly, then glanced at Xiao Yan beside him. Seeing the youth staring at him with wide eyes, he sighed softly. "Little Yanzi, it seems I can't keep it from you any longer. I'll tell you about my past another day. For now, let me speak with our young friend Lin Chen."

Only then did Xiao Yan suppress his shock, though excitement still flashed across his face. He thought eagerly, My teacher was once the continent's finest alchemist? Doesn't that make me the disciple of the continent's finest alchemist?

No wonder Teacher is so amazing. So he has a past like that...

Meanwhile, having exposed Yao Lao's identity, Lin Chen looked at him with a faint smile. "Senior, you and I both know the value of Heavenly Flames. They're a useful aid even to some eighth-tier alchemists. A single eighth-tier alchemist's legacy isn't enough."

"I also need a high-grade earth-tier Body-Refinement Dou Technique, a High-grade Earth-tier Cultivation Method, and a high-grade earth-tier secret art for increasing strength."

"If you agree, Senior, I can let you have the Heavenly Flame."

Yao Lao's expression remained unchanged as he smiled calmly. "You jest, young friend. A mere Heavenly Flame near the bottom of the heavenly flame ranking has its value, but it isn't worth so much. Do you know how precious secret arts that increase strength are?"

"I have no such art. I can give you a High-grade Earth-tier Cultivation Method, but I only have one earth-tier middle-grade Body-Refinement Dou Technique. Three legacies in exchange for one green lotus core flame would be a very fair price even in the Central Plains. What do you think, young friend?"

"I want a Peak Eighth-Tier alchemist's legacy. Since you don't have a secret art that increases strength, I've heard that when you first made your name, you used a secret method at the Pill Gathering held by the Pill Tower to forcibly raise the grade of an Eighth-Tier Pill."

"I want your Spirit Ascension Method."

Lin Chen set down his teacup and narrowed his eyes, laying out his own terms.

"Your price is rather high, young friend."

Yao Lao snorted, displeasure showing on his face. To dare demand the signature skill that had made him famous in exchange for a mere Heavenly Flame near the bottom of the heavenly flame ranking—this boy was opening his lion's maw far too wide.

"You're free to refuse, Senior. To be honest, I have some ties with the Gu Clan. The things you're unwilling to provide may well be things they're willing to offer!"

Lin Chen slapped the table, and a delicate Jade Talisman radiating dense spatial fluctuations appeared upon it.

Yao Lao's expression shifted slightly. As he examined the exquisite Jade Talisman before him, uncertainty stirred within him.

Spatial fluctuations this dense aren't the work of an ordinary Dou Zun. Does this boy really have ties with that clan?

Or is he trying to fool me?

At that thought, Yao Lao knitted his brows. After pondering for a moment, he said, "A Peak Eighth-Tier alchemist's legacy is immensely valuable. That alone would be worth a Heavenly Flame."

"Boy, your asking price is too high. I can give you the Spirit Ascension Method, but only an ordinary eighth-tier alchemist's legacy. Beyond that, I won't add anything else. That's my price. Take it or leave it."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow. "Add the earth-tier middle-grade Body-Refinement Dou Technique you mentioned, along with a secret method capable of resurrecting a Dou Zun expert."

"Your physical body has been completely destroyed, Senior, so surely you have such a method? Why not give me a copy as well? Perhaps I'll be able to help."

Yao Lao considered it for a moment, then looked at him thoughtfully. "Fine. I can give you a copy, but you must promise that if I need to be resurrected in the future, you'll lend me a hand."

"Deal. A pleasure doing business with you, Senior."

Lin Chen slowly rose and extended a hand toward Yao Lao, a faint smile on his face.

Of everything Yao Lao possessed, the most valuable to him at present were the Spirit Ascension Method and the secret method for restoring a Dou Zun expert's physical body. He could obtain everything else through other means.

Only these two things were truly rare. As an alchemist, he coveted the Spirit Ascension Method, which could raise the grade of Eighth-Tier Pills. Only someone who had refined an Eighth-Tier Pill could understand how difficult raising its grade was.

If he could acquire the Spirit Ascension Method and combine it with his experience as a peak seventh-tier alchemist, perhaps he could transcend his tier and refine an eighth-tier, two-colored pill, even without attaining the Spirit Realm soul required to refine Eighth-Tier Pills.

Once he had refined an Eighth-Tier Pill, would he still have to worry about lacking the resources to advance his soul into the Spirit Realm?